Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Robert F. Wyzgoski

This page documents the publicly reported clerical assignments, the credible sexual abuse allegations, as well as the institutional actions involving Robert F. Wyzgoski, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Robert F. Wyzgoski
• Common Variations / Aliases: Robert Wygoski (common misspelling), Fr. Robert Wyzgoski, Father Robert Wyzgoski, Rev. Robert F. Wyzgoski
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic parish priest, associate pastor, and pastor
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Robert F. Wyzgoski was publicly identified as a Catholic clergyman with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors by the Archdiocese of Detroit. This disclosure was made after an internal Church review concluded that the allegation met the Archdiocese’s standard for credibility.

Following that internal determination, the Archdiocese publicly disclosed Wyzgoski’s status, removed him from parish leadership, placed him on administrative leave, and imposed permanent restrictions from public ministry in June 2002.

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Detroit
• Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1959

Years in Active Ministry: 1959–2002

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit (MI)

Restrictions: Removed from parish leadership; placed on administrative leave; permanently restricted from public ministry

Laicization: Not publicly reported

Died: 2007

Public Disclosure: Archdiocese of Detroit public announcement in 2002

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• St. Benedict Parish – Pontiac, MI (1959–1961)
• Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish – Harper Woods, MI (1961–1966)
• St. Christopher Parish – Detroit, MI (1966–1972)
• St. Suzanne Parish – Detroit, MI (1972–1984)
• St. Veronica Parish – Eastpointe, MI (1984–1996)
• Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish – Beverly Hills, MI (1996–2002)

Non-Church Assignments: None publicly reported

Known Allegations

Publicly reported allegations against Robert F. Wyzgoski involve sexual misconduct with teenage girls during the 1960s, during his early years of ministry within the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

According to later disclosures and contemporaneous reporting, the alleged abuse occurred in Wayne County, Michigan, including Detroit-area parishes where Wyzgoski served in pastoral roles that provided regular access to youth. 

The allegations described inappropriate sexual activity involving minors and teenagers, with accounts indicating conduct that occurred over time rather than as an isolated incident.

The misconduct was not publicly reported at the time it allegedly occurred and did not come to light until decades later, when an allegation was first brought to Church officials, and additional information was subsequently supplied by civil authorities, including the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Public reporting also referenced earlier parental complaints dating back to approximately 1973, during Wyzgoski’s tenure at St. Suzanne Parish, describing behavior perceived as inappropriate toward teenage girls. Despite those concerns, no public disciplinary action was taken at the time, and Wyzgoski continued in parish ministry for many years.

Due to the historical nature of the allegations, criminal prosecution was not pursued, as the alleged conduct fell outside the applicable statute of limitations. 

Following its internal review, the Archdiocese of Detroit concluded that the allegation met its standard for credibility, resulting in Wyzgoski’s removal from ministry and later public identification as a credibly accused clergyman.

Summary: Robert F. Wyzgoski was a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit who was publicly identified as credibly accused of sexually abusing minors during his ministry, with allegations dating back to the 1960s and resulting in his removal from public ministry in 2002.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods

• Cardinal John Dearden – Archdiocese of Detroit
• Archbishop Edmund C. Szoka – Archdiocese of Detroit
• Cardinal Adam J. Maida – Archdiocese of Detroit

Institutional Actions and Review

Institutional records and contemporaneous reporting indicate that concerns regarding Robert F. Wyzgoski’s conduct existed long before his public identification, though they were not formally resolved or disclosed at the time. 

Parental complaints from the early 1970s, raised during his tenure at St. Suzanne Parish in Detroit, described inappropriate physical familiarity with teenage girls, yet no documented restrictions, reassignment disclosures, or disciplinary measures followed, and Wyzgoski continued to receive parish appointments.

The allegations that ultimately prompted action were reported decades later, leading the Archdiocese of Detroit to initiate an internal review in late spring 2002, after receiving both a formal allegation and additional information supplied by civil authorities reviewing clergy abuse claims. 

The Archdiocese concluded that the allegation met its internal standard for credibility, even though prosecution was no longer possible due to the statute of limitations. 

In June 2002, Church authorities removed Wyzgoski from parish leadership, placed him on administrative leave, granted senior priest status, and permanently restricted him from public ministry. 

These actions reflected the Archdiocese of Detroit’s enforcement of its zero-tolerance policy, under which priests were removed from ministry once allegations were deemed credible, regardless of the age of the claims or the absence of criminal charges.

The Archdiocese publicly disclosed these actions at the time, marking the first formal acknowledgment of the allegations. 

In 2005, the Vatican reviewed the case and upheld Cardinal Adam Maida’s decision, imposing additional restrictions barring Wyzgoski from functioning publicly or presenting himself as a priest. His name was later included on the Archdiocese’s official list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse, reflecting retrospective public accountability.

Timeline

1959 — Ordained as a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit

1959–1972 — Served as an associate pastor at multiple parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit

1960s — Alleged sexual abuse of minors reportedly occurred during parish ministry in Wayne County

1972–2002 — Served as pastor at several Archdiocese of Detroit parishes

Circa 1973 — Parental complaints reportedly raised regarding inappropriate conduct with teenage girls during his tenure at St. Suzanne Parish

Late spring 2002 — Allegation received by the Archdiocese; additional information supplied by civil authorities

June 2002 — Removed from parish leadership, placed on administrative leave, granted senior priest status, and permanently restricted from public ministry

2004 — Named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse

2005 — Vatican review upheld Cardinal Maida’s decision and imposed restrictions barring him from functioning publicly as a priest

December 30, 2006 — Died

June 10, 2019 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Detroit as a cleric credibly accused of sexual abuse

Speak With an Attorney

Survivors of sexual abuse involving Robert F. Wyzgoski or other Catholic clergy in Michigan may have the right to pursue accountability through civil action. Injury Lawyer Team works with survivors across the state, handling clergy abuse claims, institutional negligence cases, and historical abuse matters involving churches and religious organizations.

Reach out to a Michigan clergy abuse attorney to arrange a private, confidential consultation and learn about your legal rights, available options, and potential next steps.

Sources and Public Records

The information presented in this overview is drawn from public-facing Church disclosures and contemporaneous reporting hosted by third-party archives, including:

• The Archdiocese of Detroit’s official clergy credibly accused of abuse disclosure page, where Robert F. Wyzgoski appears as a cleric credibly accused of abuse.
• BishopAccountability’s accused-clerics profile for Robert F. Wyzgoski, which compiles basic biographical details, assignment history summaries, and links to related public records and news coverage.
• The Archdiocese of Detroit’s June 2002 public statement that announces administrative actions taken against Wyzgoski, including removal from ministry and restrictions on public priestly functions.
• A Detroit Free Press article, reporting on the 2002 removal of Wyzgoski from parish leadership amid allegations tied to misconduct reported from decades earlier.

No criminal conviction is implied unless it is explicitly stated in official court records or other authoritative public documents.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.